in a statement yesterday, boehner asserted the consequences of failing to increase the debt ceiling are real, but so, too, are the consequences of allowing our spending problem to go unresolved. it was a response to this stern warning from the president on monday. >> they will not collect a ransom in exchange for not crashing the american economy. the financial well being of the american people is not leveraged to be used. >> if the tenor of the president's last press conference of his first term is any indication about what he expects in his second term, prepare for a bond-style showdown as the government barrels towards its borrowing limit. that said, there might exist a solution that would allow congress to do what it does best, which is to say nothing at all, and still save the economy. this do nothing approach was floated by senate minority leader mitch mcconnell in 2011, and president obama gave it a hat tip yesterday. >> they want to put the responsibility on me to raise the debt ceiling, i'm happy to take it. mitch mcconnell, the republican leader in the senate, had a proposal l